Razor



M. M. EELLS March 13, 1934.

RAZOR Filed Dec. 4, ,1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 52216771 277? Mu. TOIVMERWl/V fELL 5 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE RAZORApplication December .4, 1931, Serial No. 578,890

6 Claims.

My invention relates to razors, and it has particular reference to asafety razor and means whereby illumination is provided for the bladeand the surface engaged thereby during the operation of shaving.

One of the features of the present structure resides in the fact thatthe blade holder, the handle therefor, and the source of illuminationare of a unitary character. Another feature of my invention resides inproviding a safety razor with a source of illumination, the light raysfrom which are directed principally upon the surface being operated onand without any of said rays projecting into the direct lines of visionof the user. Still another feature resides in providing a handle for asafety razor in which an electric storage battery, or dry-cell, may beenclosed to provide the current for a miniature electric lamp that ispositioned on the handle adjacent the blade holder. A further feature ofmy invention is the provision of a connecting end portion of the handle,preferably between the lamp and the head or blade holder that is made oflight-transmitting material so that the light rays from the lamp willpass through this connecting member and impinge upon the face of theperson using the razor. Another feature resides in providing means forprojecting light rays in any direction from the handle of a razor inorder to create an effectively illuminated zone at the surface where theshaving operation is taking place.

It is also an object of my invention to construct the handle, and theconnector end member in such manner, and to assemble the parts thereofso that the electrical elements enclosed within these parts aremaintained free from moisture to prevent short circuiting or arcing.

Among the numerous objects of my invention that may be mentioned arethat I desire to provide a safety razor device of the character hereindisclosed that is simple in construction, easy to operate, eiiective inperforming its numerous functions, is novel in the formation andarrangement of its parts, and is made in such manner that it will notreadily get out of order. Other objects will be apparent to others aftermy invention is understood from the following description.

I prefer to carry out my invention and to accomplish the parts thereofin substantially the manner hereinafter fully described and as moreparticularly pointed out in the claims, reference is herein made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of my improved razor, the portion at theleft of the axial center line being shown in side elevation and theportion at the right of said line being shown in longitudinal verticalsection.

Figure 2 is a view delineated in the same manner as Figure 1 showing amodified construction.

Figure 3 1s a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified structure fordirecting light rays laterally from the end of the handle.

Figure 4 is another view similar to Figure 1 showing an exteriorlydisposed lamp or bulb and means for adjusting it to different positions.

Figure 5 isa perspective of an element employed in the modificationshown in FigureB.

The drawings are to be understood as being more or less schematic forthe purpose of show- 7 ing typical or preferred forms in which myinvention may be made, and in said drawings the same referencecharacters are used to designate like parts wherever they appear in thedifierent views.

The device under consideration comprises generally a blade-carrying headand a handle, the former being constructed and operated on theprinciples of the well-known flexible double-edge blade safety razor.The holder or head of the structure consists preferably, of a guardmember 5 that is of rectangular outline and is transverselyconcavo-convex in shape between its longitudinal sides, and saidlongitudinal sides are formed with serrations or combs 6 in the usualmanner.

The blade '7.is of the two edge flexible type that is engaged by theconvex surface of the guard 5 and is maintained in flexed position by aclamp member 8 that has a concave surface'that opposes and correspondssubstantially with the curvature of the adjacent convex surface of theguard. In the drawings the blade is shown as flexed and clamped betweenthe members of the head.

A threaded stud 9 extends from the concave face of the clamp 8 throughopenings in the blade and guard and its protruding portion is engaged byan internally threaded member 10 formed as apart of the handle. Theportion of the threaded member 10 next the guard is slightly increasedin size to provide an abutment 11 that engages the adjacent surface ofthe guard when the parts are screwed together and which causes aclamping and flexing of the blade between members of the guard.

The handle, in both the types illustrated, is preferably hollow and madewith opaque walls. The terminal portion of the handle, that is theportion'nearest the head, is constructed in such manner that a lampmounted within the same will emit its light rays laterally or outwardlyfrom the'handle so that said light rays will impinge upon the surface onwhich the razor is being operated and. effectively illuminates the areawithin a certain range. This illumination may be accomplished innumerous ways and for convenience in illustration I have shown twotypes.

In Figure l the light emitting end portion of the handle consists of atapered member 12. This is made, preferably by molding a translucentmaterial such as glass, clear bakelite, celluloid or any other suitableand desirable material. 'The upper or outer end portion of this taperedmember 12 is provided with an axially extending socket 13 in which theinternally threaded member 10 is firmly seated, either by means of acement or by mechanical means employed during the molding of the member12.

The body or main portion of the handle consists of a pair of telescopingtubes 14 and 15, the former (14) of which has its upper portion reducedin diameter to provide a shoulder or seat 16 and back of this reducedportion and shoulder the exterior surface of the tube 14 isscrewthreaded for a short distance. The light transmitting translucentend member 12 of the handle has its base or widest portion shaped to fitor seat on the shoulder 16 and the reduced portion beyond the latter,and it is provided with an external bead or rib 17 that is engaged bythe inwardly flanged portion 18 of an exterior collar 19 that isinternally threaded so that it may be screwed down upon the threads onthe adjacent portion of the tube 14 and thus draw the parts firmlytogether to anchor the translucent end member in place.

The inner tube 15 of the handle has external threads 20, preferably ofthe rolled type, upon its upper end portion and the outer tube isprovided with a plurality of dents or knicks 21 that are of such shapethat they form small inwardly extending projections that fit into thethreads 20 of the other tube so that a relative rotative' movement ofthe tube will cause a telescopic movement of one tube with respect tothe other. As will be seen in Fig. l the tubes overlap each other aconsiderable distance. This is done for the purpose of stability as wellas to provide against seepage of moisture between the tubes. In thislatter connection it will be noted that the difference between theinternal and external diameters of the respective tubes is very slightso that a snug sliding fit is secured. As a further protection againstleakage or seepage of moisture I have provided an oiT-set annularchannel 22 in the outer face of the tube 15 at a location where theOuter tube extends over the same. This channel provides a seat for anelastic gasket 23 of rubber or other material that seals the minutespace between the respective surface of the telescoped tubes. The lowerend of the inner tube 15 is closed in any suitable manner, preferably bya cap 24 having an internally threaded flange 25 that screws ontothreads formed on the outer end of said tube in the manner shown. Thecombined length of the telescoping tubes 14 and 15, when assembled asshown in Figure 1, is sufficient to accommodate within them a smallelongated storage battery 26, which, in the type shown in Figure 1,supplies the current for illuminating a bulb 2'7 housed within thestructure of the handle.

The bulb 27 is of the miniature type such as used in flashlights andsimilar devices and is carried in a socket element that is removablyinserted into the handle. The socket element shown is preferably ofmetal and consists of a downwardly tapered portion 28 having an annularflange 29 at its upper edge that fits against the inner portion of theshoulder 16 of the handle tube 14, while the lower end of the taperedportion terminates in a cylindrical threaded socket 30 to receive thethreaded portion of the bulb 27.

A coiled expansion spring 31 is interposed between the flange 29 and theend ofthe battery 26 to normally maintain the socket element and thebulb in position and to keep the battery terminal out of contact withthe bulb terminal. When the tube 15 is rotated to screw ittelescopically into the other tube the length of the handle shortens andthe battery terminal is moved into contact with the bulb to illuminatethe filament therein. The position of the bulb is such that light raystherefrom will pass laterally out of the handle, through the translucentend member 12 thereof and illuminate the surface that is to be engagedby the blade during the shaving operation.

The structure disclosed in Figure 2 is a simplified construction of thelight transmitting end member of the handle and the electric current isfrom an ordinary service tap or external battery. In this form thehandle 32 is of one-piece construction-and it is of less dimensions,longitudinally and transversely, than the other type shown. I

A small shoulder 33 is formed at the upper end of tube 32 and a tubularpiece of translucent material 34 is suitably anchored on this shoulderand extends upwardly toward the blade-carrying head of the razor. Ametal plug 35 having a central threaded bore is suitably anchored in theupper end of the translucent tube 34 to engage with the threaded stud 9of the clamp member of the head.

Adjacent the shoulder 33 a miniature lamp socket 36 is mounted in thetube 32 to receive the light bulb 27 and conductors 37 and 38 lead fromthe socket to an insulating plug 39 in the opposite lower end of thehandle tube 32 where said conductors are connected to terminals 40 thatproject through said plug. The socket 36 is preferably imbedded in theadjacent inner end of a removable core 41 .of insulating material thathas an enlargement 42 surrounding the socket to snugly fit into thehandle tube, while at the other end the core is preferably formedintegrally with the plug 39. The construction permits the ready removalof the socket for lamp replacement, and the like, and liability ofshort-circuiting is overcome by reason of the fact that the conductors3738 are imbedded in or molded with the core during the process ofmanufacture. A small setscrew passingthrough the handle tube and intothe plug maintains the core in assembly with the handle.

In the structure shown in Figure 1, it is preferred to interpose awasher 45 of insulating material between the battery and the lower endof the coiled spring to insure against short-circuiting of the current,and at the bottom of the handle I place a bowed metal spring 46 thatacts as a shock-absorber to cushion the battery and associated parts.

In the types hereinbefore described, the end of the handle nearest theblade and surrounding the lamp is made preferably of a transparent ortranslucent material which permits the light rays from the lamp toproject in all radial planes from the end of the handle, but it ispossible, of course, to provide means for controlling and limiting thedirection of light flow from the handle. Two of such types are shown inFigures 3 and 4 of the drawings, and both figures disclose the fact thatI may dispense with the wholly translucent ex-' tension on the end ofthe handle and in lieu thereof I may utilize an adjustable element forcontrolling or directing the light rays with re- Ill spect to thecutting edge of the blade that is in use.

Figure 4 shows a tubular metal handle of telescopic character, the upperand outer tube 14 having a lateral opening in its upper portion in whichthe socket 47 is formed to receive the bulb 27. A spring metal contactbracket 48 extends from the rear of the socket to a point under thelatter in axial alinement with the battery 26 and an abutment 49projects radially into the handle to confine the coiled spring 31. Abovethe socket, a bafile plate 50 is soldered to the interior of the tube toseal the same to prevent moisture reaching the parts below the same.

The blade carrying head is adapted to be removably and adjustablymounted on a hollow tapered metal extension or cap 51 on the adjacentend of the tube. This cap has a cylindrically shaped basal portion andthe inner portion of its wall is slightly undercut as schematicallyindicated at 52 and the adjacent end portion of the tube has a slightannular flare as at 53. The respective dimensions of the undercut andflare are such that the parts may be forced towards each other andsnapped into position when assembled. This construction permits relativerotative movement between the handle and head, in the manner of aswivel, in order that the cutting edge of the blade may be positioned inthe manner desired by the user to direct the rays from the bulb upon thesurface being shaved. If desired, an inverted visor 54 may be placedaround the bulb in the manner suggested in dotted lines, and said visorwill also perform the function of a guard to protect the protrudingportion of the bulb against injury.

In Figure 3 the lamp or bulb is disposed inside the end of the tubularhandle and the upper portion of the outer tube 14 of the handle isprovided with an annular channel or guideway that is formed betweenshoulders or off-sets 55 and 56 spaced longitudinally of the tube.Between these shoulders the tube wall is provided with a plurality ofopenings or wide slots 57 that are close together so that narrow ribs 58remain between them. This permits light rays from the lamp to beprojected through the wall of the tube in practically all radialdirections or planes. For the purpose of controlling and adjusting thedirection of flow of light rays I place a rotatable sleeve in thechannel which is in the form of a split ring 59 that is substantially aswide as the guideway so that it may be slipped on over one of theshoulders and seated in the channel. Preferably the sleeve is of opaquematerial such as spring metal and it is provided with a window oropening 60 in which a lens 61 or other transparent or translucentmaterial is seated.

After the blade has been tightened in the head between the guard andclamp members the sleeve 59 may be rotated until the light rays opposingthrough the window are directed upon the surface to be operated upon bythe blade. This construction permits the different control of the lightrays in any direction desired by the user.

What I claim is:

l. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head. a handle. anextension at one end of said handle and formed with a continuoustranslucent wall, a threaded cylindric member in the outer end of saidextension that cooperates with said stud to maintain said head and bladein position transverse to said handle, a lamp adjacent said extensionand surrounded by said translucent wall through which latter light raysfrom said lamp are emitted in all radial directions, and means forsupplying electric current to said lamp.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head, a handle, aremovable hollow cap at one end of said handle having a continuoustranslucent wall, a threaded cylindric member in the outer end of saidcap that cooperates with said stud to maintain said head and blade inposition transverse to said handle, a lamp adjacent said cap andsurrounded by said translucent wall through which latter light rays fromsaid lamp are emitted in all radial directions, and means for supplyingelectric current to said lamp.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head, a handle, atapered hollow cap of translucent material at one end of said handle, athreaded cup in the outer end of said cap that cooperates with said studto maintain said head and blade in position transverse to said handle, alamp surrounded by said cap through which latter light rays from saidlamp are emitted, and means for supplying electric current to said lamp.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head, a hollowhandle, an extension at one end of said handle and formed with acontinuous translucent wall, a threaded cylindric member in the outerend of said extension that cooperates with said stud to maintain saidhead and blade in position transverse to said handle, a lamp adjacentsaid extension and surrounded by said translucent wall through whichlatter light rays from said lamp are emitted in all radial directions,and an electric battery housed within said handle for supplying electriccurrent to said lamp.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head, a removablehollow handle, a hollow cap at one end of said handle having acontinuous translucent wall, a threaded cylindric member in the outerend of said cap that cooperates with said stud to maintain said head andblade in position transverse to said handle, a lamp adjacent said capand surrounded by said translucent wall, through which latter light raysfrom said lamp are emitted in all radial directions, and an electricbattery housed within said handle for supplying electric.

current to said lamp.

6. A device of the kind described comprising a head including a razorblade, a threaded stud projecting centrally from said head, a hollowhandle. a tapered hollow can of translucent material at one end of saidhandle, a threaded cup in the outer end of said cap that cooperates withsaid stud to maintain said head and blade in position transverse to saidhandle, a lamp surrounded by said cap through which latter light raysfrom said lamp are emitted, and an electric battery housed-within saidhandle for supplying electric current to said lamp.

. MILTON MERWIN EELLS.

